If your baby shows signs of tummy problems, you are probably desperate to find a way to soothe his tummy. It is heartbreaking to hear your baby cry and not know how to make him feel better.
Gas is caused by air in the digestive system and is entirely normal for some babies. For many babies, gas will clear up by itself.
Some babies suffer no discomfort from gas, whereas others find it painful. Some babies cannot sleep until they have passed the gas and others will cry until the pain goes.
Gassy baby symptoms
If you have a gassy baby, you might notice he exhibits the following symptoms during bouts of gassiness:
- Goes red in the face while crying
- Squirms
- Pulls his legs up to his chest
- Sleeps or feeds poorly
- Appears unhappy.
Should I stop breastfeeding my gassy baby?
No, there is absolutely no need to stop breastfeeding because your baby is suffering from gas. Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby as it contains the right amount of nutrients your growing baby needs.
There are other things you can try, to relieve the symptoms, such as a deeper latch and a more upright feeding position.
If you’re struggling with breastfeeding, it’s always worth contacting a Lactation Consultant, who will be able to advise you and support your breastfeeding journey.
To learn more about the symptoms of gas and how you can help your baby get some relief, look at Gassy baby? Symptoms And Remedies For Relief.
Can a breastfeeding mom’s diet cause a gassy baby?
If you have a gassy baby, people have probably told you that you should change your diet. Despite this advice not being well founded, new moms are often bombarded with calls to change their diet when breastfeeding.
Although your grandma might be pressuring you to change your breastfeeding diet, it really isn’t something you need to do.
If, however, you are concerned that your diet could be adding to the problem, you might want to pay close attention to the foods you eat for a while.
Gassiness is normal in babies and often comes and goes. Your baby’s digestive system is still developing, and your baby might experience gassiness from time to time in the early months.
The good news is he will probably grow out of the gassy baby phase very soon.
Mom’s diet for gassy baby
Dietary changes might help, on an individual level, if your baby is intolerant to a particular food, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach here.
If you want to cut out certain foods, try keeping a food diary for a few weeks.
Write down all the foods you eat and note any times when your baby is gassy. After a few weeks, you’ll be able to look for patterns to see if a particular food could be to blame.
If you think you’ve found the culprit, you can try cutting this food out of your diet for a few weeks to see if this helps. Make sure you are still having a diet full of other nutritious foods.
It’s important to eliminate foods one by one, so you can see which foods, if any, could be causing problems. Remember, gas is normal for some babies, so your diet might not affect your little one’s discomfort.
Foods to avoid when breastfeeding
Although the Internet might try to convince you otherwise, there is no such thing as a list of foods to avoid when breastfeeding.
On the whole, babies are not bothered by the same types of foods. Sure, your baby might get an upset tummy when you eat a certain thing, but that particular food won’t be to blame for another baby’s discomfort.
Foods to eat when breastfeeding to calm baby
If you want to try to calm your baby, and you’re looking for the best foods to do this, you should try to eat a healthy, balanced diet that’s filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and other nourishing foods.
Don’t forget, though, life is about balance. There’s no such thing as ‘breastfeeding-friendly foods’. If the only thing you fancy is a bar of your favorite chocolate, go for it.
A happy mom makes for a happy baby. Indulging your cravings every once in a while isn’t going to spoil your breast milk.
Vegetables to eat while breastfeeding
A healthy diet, rich in fresh vegetables and leafy greens, is important when breastfeeding and it will help increase breast milk supply as well.
You should eat plenty of vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Fresh vegetables are the perfect addition to a breastfeeding meal for nursing mothers. You should try to ‘eat a rainbow’, which means including a mix of colors in your diet. For example, include sweet potatoes, green kale, orange carrots, purple beetroot, red kidney beans, and yellow peppers. Eating a variety of colors each day helps you consume a mix of vitamins and minerals throughout the week.
Fruits good for breastfeeding mother
Adding fruits is another great way to eat a rainbow each day. Fruits are a great source of dietary fiber and provide an essential mix of nutrients for you during the postpartum period. Good fruits to eat when breastfeeding include: blueberries, grapes, kiwis, pineapple, and raspberries. Try to nourish your body with plenty of fresh, colorful foods during your postpartum healing.
Recipes for breastfeeding moms with gassy babies
If you’re stuck for inspiration, fear not; we’ve compiled a list of 5 mouth-watering recipes for you to enjoy:
#1 Spanish-style fried rice
Rice is unlikely to cause baby’s gas problems. This filling, versatile and popular food is a great go-to when adjusting your diet to weed out foods that could cause digestive problems.
BellyBelly has a great recipe for Spanish-style fried rice. The great thing about this dish is that you can add and deduct ingredients easily, so you end up with a meal you love.
#2 Marinated tofu with pak choi
You may remember from pregnancy that ginger can help relieve digestive problems. Try including ginger in your diet to see if it makes a difference. This marinated tofu with pak choi recipe is easy to make and is also delicious. Enjoy it as a healthy lunch or a tasty dinner.
#3 Sausage rolls
The humble sausage roll is an easy go-to when time is short. These can easily be bought on the go from your fave bakery or cooked from frozen. However, if you love cooking and want to make your sausage rolls, we have a fantastic sausage roll recipe for you to try. If you create a batch of tasty sausage rolls, you can store them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use them. This is a great way to ensure you eat a filling lunch, even when you have a velcro baby attached to you all day.
#4 Coconut kisses
If you’re altering your daily diet to see if it helps ease your baby’s digestive problems, you might be struggling with new snack ideas. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall into bad habits when it comes to snacks. Rather than reaching for healthy snacks, it’s easy (and convenient) to grab processed, sugary junk food to lift energy levels between meals.
Coconut kisses are easy to make, and they’re a great mid-morning snack to perk you up before lunch. If you have a food processor, coconut kisses won’t take long to make and you can store them in the fridge or even freeze a batch to use later. Check out BellyBelly’s Coconut Kisses recipe today.
#5 Pancakes
Looking for breakfast ideas fit for a queen? Pancakes are the answer. This BellyBelly pancake recipe is super easy and tastes amazing. Ok, they’re not going to magically fix your baby’s upset tummy, but they shouldn’t make things worse. If you’re worried dairy is affecting your baby’s tummy, switch out the cows’ milk for a dairy alternative such as almond milk or coconut milk and feel free to substitute the self-raising flour for a gluten-free option.
Meal prep for breastfeeding moms
To make life easier as a breastfeeding mom, you should have a freezer filled with batch-cooked meals that simply need reheating. Try to have a mix of meals, so you don’t get bored with the foods you have to choose from. Casseroles, pasta sauces, and soups are great meals to batch cook. Some days, your baby will have a long nap and you’ll have the energy and inclination to cook a delicious, healthy lunch. Other days, though, you’ll be thankful for the well-stocked freezer.
Diet plan for breastfeeding mothers to lose weight
If you’re keen to shed the baby weight, you might be looking for a diet plan to help breastfeeding mothers lose weight. But, like during pregnancy, now is not a great time to put yourself on a restrictive diet plan. Your body and your baby rely on you eating a healthy, balanced diet. Restrictive meal plans are generally best avoided. Instead, you should focus on lasting, positive changes to your lifestyle and diet.
If you are hoping to lose some weight, you should be sure to eat a healthy, balanced diet, rich in fresh vegetables and fruits. Skip the junk food and instead focus on eating wholesome foods that nourish your body. Don’t miss meals; make sure you fill up on healthy meals. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. And be sure to move. Take your baby for long walks in the sling, join a postnatal exercise class and find a local yoga class that focuses on postnatal recovery.
When to call a doctor
You should always call your doctor if you feel concerned about your baby. Although gassiness is normal and expected, you are the expert on your baby; if you are worried, it’s worth getting a second opinion.
